NPR News: 05-29-2026 8PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – May 29, 2026, 8PM EDT

Host: Ryland Barton
Date: May 30, 2026
Length: ~5 minutes
Theme: A roundup of major national and international news stories, including congressional investigations, redistricting in Louisiana, DOJ lawsuits, Kennedy Center controversy, concerns over gut health trends, and Fordlandia’s preservation.

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1. Congressional Hearing on Epstein Files

[00:17–01:10]

• Pam Bondi, Former Attorney General, defended her department’s handling of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein before a House Oversight Committee in a closed-door session.
  • Bondi stood by her record, acknowledged “redaction errors” but noted the review of Epstein files was supervised by deputy Todd Blanche.
  • Outside the hearing, Epstein survivors called for more transparency and accountability.
  • Memorable Quote:
    • Danny Bensky, survivor:

    “When do we get investigations and who the hell are we protecting?” (Brooke Thorington reading Danny Bensky, [00:54])

  • Congress is scheduling six more interviews in this probe, including with Bill Gates.
  • Correspondent: Eva Berger

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2. Louisiana Redistricting and Voting Rights

[01:10–02:03]

• Louisiana’s Republican lawmakers passed a new congressional map after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the old one for diluting Black voting power.
  • The revised map eliminates one of two majority-Black districts, a move Democrats argue further weakens the Voting Rights Act.
  • Notable Quote:
    • State Senator Royce Duplessis (D-LA):

    “This is a vicious, vicious race to the bottom. And I believe that SB121, even after these amendments, only accelerates that race to the bottom for us as a country.” ([01:42])

  • Governor Jeff Landry (R-LA) promptly signed the bill into law.
  • The legislative session ends soon.
  • Correspondent: Brooke Thorington

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3. DOJ Sues States Over ICE License Plates

[02:03–02:49]

• The Justice Department filed suit against Massachusetts, Washington, Oregon, and Maine for refusing ICE agents access to confidential license plates typically reserved for law enforcement.
  • DOJ argues these plates are crucial for officer safety and investigative work.
  • States contend the plates are meant only for criminal investigations, which they say doesn't include ICE’s activities; Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey reaffirms this position.
  • Correspondent: Jacqueline Diaz

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4. Trump Name Removed from Kennedy Center

[02:49–03:11]

• A federal judge ruled that the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., can only be named after its intended figure, John F. Kennedy, unless Congress specifies otherwise.
  • President Trump’s name, which had been added for an upcoming renovation project, must be removed.
  • Judge also halted Trump’s plans to close the center for two years; Trump responded by withdrawing from plans and returning control to Congress.
  • Host: Ryland Barton

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5. France Demands Investigation into Gaza Flotilla Incident

[03:11–03:46]

• France’s government calls for an investigation into allegations of Israeli mistreatment—including sexual violence and beatings—against flotilla activists intercepted en route to Gaza.
  • The French foreign minister cited a diplomatic report detailing abuses.
  • Israel denies the accusations.

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6. Gut Health Products: Experts Warn Against Hype

[03:46–04:27]

• Interest in gut health is surging, but scientific understanding lags behind commercial claims.
  • Most popular gut microbiome tests are not yet reliable for health guidance.
  • Probiotics may help in certain cases, but broad benefits for healthy people aren’t proven.
  • Expert Advice: Dr. Hannah Holscher, University of Illinois:

    “Eating a diverse array of plant-based and fermented foods to help support the microbiome diversity.” ([04:14])

  • Most Americans fall short on recommended fiber intake—a key factor for gut health.
  • Correspondent: Will Stone

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7. Brazil’s Fordlandia to Be Restored

[04:27–04:55]

• Brazilian courts ordered government action to restore and preserve Fordlandia, Henry Ford’s abandoned Amazon outpost once intended as a rubber metropolis.
  • Disease and failure led to the site’s desertion decades ago.
  • The ruling requires a recovery plan and sets penalties for non-compliance.
  • Host: Ryland Barton

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End of content.
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Transcript

[NPR Sponsor Announcer]

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[Ryland Barton]

In Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi defended her handling of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a closed door congressional hearing today. NPR's Eva Berger has more.

[Eva Berger]

In a prepared opening statement, Bondi told the House Oversight Committee that she stands behind her work as attorney general and the department's record under her leadership. She admitted there was redaction errors in the Epstein filed release, but she also noted that the Epstein document review was overseen by her deputy Todd Blanche. Outside the day's proceedings, a group of Epstein survivors demanded answers. One of them was Danny Bensky.

[Brooke Thorington]

When do we get investigations and who do we the hell are we protecting?

[Eva Berger]

Bensky met Epstein when she was a young ballerina. She alleges he sexually abused her. There are six more interviews scheduled for the committee, including Bill Gates. Eva Berger, NPR News, the Capitol.

[Ryland Barton]

Louisiana lawmakers have approved a new Republican friendly congressional map. Brooke Thorington of member station WRKF reports. The state's primaries were delayed to allow for redistricting.

[Brooke Thorington]

Republican lawmakers raced to eliminate one of two majority black seats after the U.S. supreme Court ruled the old map of unconstitutional. That decision further weakened a central part of the Voting Rights Act. Democratic State Senator Royce Duplessis expressed his frustration with the process in a map that dilutes the black vote.

[Ryland Barton]

This is a vicious, vicious race to the bottom. And I believe that SB121, even after these amendments, only accelerates that race to the bottom for us as a country.

[Brooke Thorington]

Republican Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has signed the bill into law. The legislative session ends on Monday. For NPR News, I'm Brooke Thorington in Baton Rouge.

[Ryland Barton]

The Justice Department is suing four Democratic led states for refusing to provide ICE agents with confidential license plates. NPR's Jacqueline Diaz has more.

[Jacqueline Diaz]

Confidential license plates are generally given to law enforcement for undercover work. The DOJ says in its lawsuit that these plates are crucial to officer safety and law enforcement work. But Massachusetts, Washington, Oregon and Maine stopped issuing these plates to ICE agents. The DOJ claims this is discrimination in states like Massachusetts, it was decided these license plates should only be granted for criminal investigative work. And Governor Moura Healey said that is not what ICE is doing and that the state will not help ICE agents operate in secret. Jacqueline Diaz, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

A federal judge has ordered President Trump's name to be removed from the Kennedy center in Washington, D.C. saying the institution can't be named for anyone besides John F. Kennedy unless Congress says so. The judge also halted Trump's planned two year closure of the center. In response, Trump said he's backing away from his proposed renovation and returning control of the center to Congress. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. France's government is calling for an investigation into Israel's alleged mistreatment of activists from a flotilla to Gaza. France's foreign minister said a report from French diplomats in Turkey detailed alleged abuses, including sexual violence and beatings. The flotilla was intercepted this month in a Activists accused Israeli forces of mistreatment. Israel denied these claims. There's a booming market of wellness products for gut health, but experts say these claims that they're making have gone well ahead of the actual science. NPR's Will Stone has more.

[Will Stone]

The trillions of organisms in our gut shape our health in powerful ways. But experts say the field is still figuring out how to actually define a healthy microbiome, which is one reason popular gut microbiome tests aren't all that useful. Yet. Probiotics can be helpful in certain circumstances, but there isn't strong evidence the average healthy person needs to take them. Hannah Holscher at the University of Illinois says focusing on fiber is one of the simplest and most important things you can do for your gut microbiome.

[Brooke Thorington]

Eating a diverse array of plant based and fermented foods to help support the microbiome diversity.

[Will Stone]

Research shows most Americans don't get enough fiber in their diets. Will Stone, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

A Brazilian court has ruled that officials must restore and preserve fuel. Fordlandia. The city was established by Henry Ford nearly a century ago in the Amazon rainforest as a rubber tapping metropolis. Disease ravaged the plantations, leading to the city's abandonment. Brazilian prosecutors sued for its preservation in 2015. The ruling requires a recovery plan with penalties for non compliance. This is NPR News from Washington.

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